,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cbja ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #d1 #bjba,mr4 ,cotton 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,cortez ,masto1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 and ,mr4 ,rubio7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to establish a joint ,united ,states-,taiwan ,infectious ,disease ,monitoring ,center to serve as an early warning center in the case of an infectious disease outbreak in the ,indo-,pacific region4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,united ,states-,taiwan ,public ,health ,protection ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,center ,the term ,center means the ,infectious ,disease ,monitoring ,center established pursuant to section #c4 7#b7 ,relevant congressional committees ,the term relevant congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate2 7,c7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,d7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,state4 #c4 ,infectious ,disease ,monitoring ,center 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services and the heads of other relevant ,federal departments and agencies1 shall-- 7#a7 establish an ,infectious ,disease ,monitoring ,center within the ,american ,institute in ,taiwan in ,taipei1 ,taiwan2 and 7#b7 not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 complete a study of how best to establish the ,center that includes-- 7,a7 consultation with the ,taiwan ,economic and ,cultural ,representative ,office in the ,united ,states1 the ,taiwan ,centers for ,disease ,control1 and any other relevant instrumentalities of the ,taiwanese government2 and 7,b7 a consideration of the personnel1 material1 and funding requirements necessary to establish and operate the ,center4 7b7 ,partnership ,the ,center shall seek to partner with the ,taiwan ,centers for ,disease ,control to conduct health monitoring of infectious diseases in the region by-- 7#a7 regularly monitoring1 analyzing1 and disseminating open-source material from countries in the region1 including viral strains1 bacterial subtypes1 and other pathogens2 7#b7 engaging in people-to-people contacts with medical specialists and public health officials in the region2 7#c7 providing expertise and information on infectious diseases to the ,government of the ,united ,states and the ,taiwanese government2 and 7#d7 carrying out other appropriate activities1 as determined by the ,director of the ,center4 7c7 ,staffing 7#a7 ,infectious disease experts ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall annually submit a list to the ,secretary that identifies not fewer than #c infectious disease experts1 from among the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 and the ,food and ,drug ,administration1 who are recommended to serve as detailees to the ,center4 7#b7 ,other public health professionals ,the heads of other relevant ,federal departments and agencies may submit recommendations to the ,secretary of qualified persons within their respective departments and agencies to serve as detailees to the ,center4 7#c7 ,selection ,the ,secretary1 after considering the detailees recommended pursuant to paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7-- 7,a7 shall appoint1 for a period to be determined by the ,secretary-- 7i7 not fewer than #c infectious disease experts detailed from among the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 and the ,food and ,drug ,administration to work at the ,center1 including #a expert to serve as the ,director of the ,center2 and 7ii7 not fewer than #a qualified person from any other relevant ,federal department or agency1 including the ,department of ,state and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 to work at the ,center2 7,b7 may employ qualified foreign service nationals or locally engaged staff who are considered citizens of ,taiwan to work at the ,center2 and 7,c7 may enter into agreements with the ,taiwanese government regarding employees of the ,taiwan ,centers for ,disease ,control who may be tasked with supporting or coordinating with the ,center4 7#d7 ,compensation ,individuals appointed by the ,secretary pursuant to clause 7i7 or 7ii7 of paragraph 7#c77;,a7-- 7,a7 shall be placed on leave without pay from their respective ,federal departments and agencies for the duration of such appointment2 and 7,b7 shall be compensated by the ,department of ,state4 #d4 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit a report to the relevant congressional committees that contains the results of the study described in section #c7;a77#b71 including-- 7#a7 a plan on how to establish and operate the ,center1 including-- 7,a7 the personnel1 material1 and funding requirements necessary to establish and operate the ,center2 and 7,b7 the proposed structure and composition of ,center personnel2 7#b7 a description of the efforts that have been undertaken to establish the ,center2 and 7#c7 a description of any consultations or agreements between the ,department of ,state and the ,taiwanese government regarding the establishment and operation of the ,center1 including-- 7,a7 the role that employees of the ,taiwan ,centers for ,disease ,control would play in supporting or coordinating with the ,center2 and 7,b7 whether any employees of the ,taiwan ,centers for ,disease ,control would be detailed to1 or co-located with1 the ,center4 #e4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,department of ,state ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,department of ,state-- 7#a7 for fiscal year #bjbb1 #cjj1jjj1 of which-- 7,a7 #bej1jjj shall be used to conduct the study described in section #c7;a77#b72 and 7,b7 #ej1jjj shall be used to determine the selection of detailees to the ,center from among the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 the ,food and ,drug ,administration1 and other relevant ,federal departments or agencies2 and 7#b7 for fiscal year #bjbc1 and each succeeding fiscal year1 #ej1jjj1 which shall be used to determine the selection of detailees to the ,center from among the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 the ,food and ,drug ,administration1 and other relevant ,federal departments or agencies4 7b7 ,american ,institute in ,taiwan ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,american ,institute in ,taiwan for fiscal year #bjbb1 and each succeeding fiscal year1 #a1cjj1jjj1 of which-- 7#a7 #a1bjj1jjj shall be used to employ the personnel described in section #c7;c77#c72 and 7#b7 #ajj1jjj shall be used for management expenses related to operating the ,center4